Where was the Minnesota record walleye caught?

Seagull River, in Cook County, Minnesota.

How long has the Minnesota walleye record stood?

47 years. The record was set in 1979 and remains the standing Minnesota mark as of 2026.

Which state has the biggest record walleye?

Of the 12 states in our index with a walleye record, Missouri holds the heaviest at 21 lb 1 oz (1988). Minnesota ranks 6 of 12 at 17 lb 8 oz.

Minnesota State Record Walleye: 17 lb 8 oz

Q: What is the Minnesota state record walleye?

The Minnesota state record walleye weighed 17 lb 8 oz and measured 35.8 inches. It was caught in 1979 from Seagull River in Cook County by LeRoy Chiovitte, and is recognized by the Minnesota DNR.

The Minnesota state record walleye weighed 17 lb 8 oz and measured 35.8 inches. It was caught in 1979 from Seagull River in Cook County by LeRoy Chiovitte, and the Minnesota DNR still recognizes it as the state mark 47 years later.

Weight

17 lb 8 oz

Length

35.8 in

Year set

1979

47 years standing

Water

Seagull River

Cook County

Where the record came from

The record came from Seagull River in Cook County. We don't carry a water-quality grade for it: our index covers standing lakes with enough EPA Water Quality Portal samples to score, which leaves out rivers and tributaries, Great Lakes water, and smaller ponds that are rarely sampled. Browse the Minnesota lakes we do grade instead.

Walleye records by state

Minnesota ranks 6 of 12 among the states in our index for record walleye. Missouri holds the heaviest at 21 lb 1 oz, set in 1988.

#	State	Weight	Year	Water
1	Missouri	21 lb 1 oz	1988	Bull Shoals Lake
2	New York	18 lb 2 oz	2018	St. Lawrence River
3	Pennsylvania	18 lb 1 oz	2021	Youghiogheny River
4	Wisconsin	18 lb	1933	High Lake
5	South Dakota	17 lb 13 oz	2023	Lake Oahe
6	Minnesota (this page)	17 lb 8 oz	1979	Seagull River
7	Michigan	17 lb 3 oz	1951	Pine River
8	North Dakota	16 lb 6 oz	2021	Lake Oahe
9	Ohio	16 lb 3 oz	1999	Lake Erie
10	Illinois	15 lb 1 oz	2012	Pecatonica River
11	Iowa	14 lb 8 oz	1986	Des Moines River (Saylorville to Red Rock)
12	Indiana	14 lb 4 oz	1974	Kankakee River

Each figure comes from that state's own fisheries agency. Agencies differ on what they certify — some recognize catch-and-release length records alongside weight — so treat this as a comparison of standing certified weights, not a single national list.

How it ranks inside Minnesota

7 of Minnesota's 16 standing records are heavier than the 17 lb 8 oz walleye — unsurprising, since record weight tracks species size more than anything about the water. 9 Minnesota records have stood longer, the walleye mark dating to 1979.

Minnesota lakes that hold walleye

1254 Minnesota lakes in our index are documented to hold walleye, ranked here by water-quality grade.

AEast Fox Lake — Crow Wing County ANorth Long Lake — Crow Wing County ABad Medicine Lake — Becker County ABig Sugar Bush Lake — Becker County ARound Lake — Cook County AHorseshoe Lake — Cass County ALong Lake — Cass County ALong Lake — Clearwater County

All Minnesota walleye lakes →

Other Minnesota records

Northern Pike 45 lb 12 oz Muskellunge 54 lb Largemouth Bass 8 lb 15 oz Smallmouth Bass 8 lb Lake Trout 43 lb 8 oz Brown Trout 16 lb 12 oz Rainbow Trout 17 lb 6 oz Brook Trout 6 lb 5.6 oz Channel Catfish 38 lb Flathead Catfish 70 lb Black Crappie 5 lb Bluegill 2 lb 13 oz Yellow Perch 3 lb 4 oz Lake Sturgeon 94 lb 4 oz Tiger Muskie 34 lb 12 oz

All 16 Minnesota state records in one table →

Record compiled from the official Minnesota DNR angling records. Updated 2026. New records are certified year-round — check the agency page before treating any figure here as the current mark. LakeQuality is independent and not affiliated with the Minnesota DNR.